Drainage pipe and method of and means for installing the same



A, J, PARRISH Nov. 8, 1938.

DRAINAGE PIPE AND METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR INSTALLING THE SAME Filed March 26. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nvcnbcm (1Mo: um.

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NOV. 8, 1938. Al 1 PARR|5|| 2,136,151

DRAINAGE PlPE AND METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR INSTALLING THE SAME Filed March 26, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Non nen,

Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAINAGE PIPE AND METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR INSTALLING THE SABE Application March 26, 1936, Serial No. 71.015

i Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in drain pipes and the like, and a method of and means for installing such pipes under ground.

More particularly, the invention relates to the i provision of pipes and casings and means for laying the same to provide for drainage of water from beneath existing pavement and other structures, the provision of culverts, and generally, the underground placement of pipes without involving the great expense of trenching, laying and afterward iilling in, or disturbing the existing structures under which the pipes are extended.

While not limited thereto in its use, the invention has particular application in the provision of suitable drainage and culverts for existing highways, pavement structures, and railroad beds. Water accumulation beneath these structures and others due to improper drainage results in serious damage to the overlying structures. In connection with roadbed and pavement structures, for example, vehicular traflic passing thercover produces an impact or tamping action which tends to cause any water in the base to form water pockets and raise the Water table. Under impact loads of passing trafflce and under frost conditions such accumulations are causations of extensive damage which would otherwise be minimized with proper drainage. By the present invention it is possible, without great expense, to tap and drain water pockets and moisture zones under such structures and to prevent recurrence of the fault.

In the prior practices of providing openings, culverts, and drains under highways, railways,

and other structures, trenching and tunnelinghave been the most common methods employed although some use has been made of the socalled jacking method. All of such practices, however, are relatively expensive and more or less impair the compacted condition oi' the soil.

The present invention contemplates the provision of proper drainage and aeration by a novel pipe structure which can be made of sheet metal or` other relatively light stock, and supporting and driving means cooperating therewith, whereby the pipe can be installed at desired points under ground frictionally tight in the surrounding soil and without damage to the pipe, whether it be of the plain or perforated type of structure. In application of the invention, it is possible to utilize sheet metal or other thin wall pipe structures and provide such structures with support by a close tting carrier in an assembly capable of being forced into position in the ground. It

(Cl. Z55-1) is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide pipe structures and cooperating means whereby the pipes may be inserted under ground and also to points under existing structures with a minimum expense. 5

A further and important object of the invention is the provision of pipe and cooperating mandrel structures which make possible the use of relatively thin sheet metal pipe and its installation under ground without resulting damage 10 to the pipe.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a pipe with a helical thread and a cooperating mandrel structure for supporting and forcing the pipe into the ground so that the resultant load in this operation is transferred to the driving mandrel structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drain pipe with hole-clearing means at one end and comprising successive cooperating sections.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a method of installing pipes provided with a thread formation on their exterior surface by supporting and rotating the pipes by means of a carrier in the process of installation, and thereafter withdrawing the carrier without removing the pipe.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description oi' the invention and reference to the drawings forming part of this speciiication, wherein like reference numerals have been used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the various figures.

In the drawings:--

Fig. 1 illustratesI in cross section, an existing pavement structure and one application of the invention providing drainage pipes therefor.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View of 40 the pipe and carrier assembly similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the leading end of the pipe in Fig. 2, illustrating clearing cutters applied thereto.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a pipe end section and locking means.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of a pipe section perforated for drain purposes.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a mandrel section.

Fig. 'I is a perspective view of a modified form of mandrel and a cooperating detachable cutter head.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view showing mandrel and pipe thread cooperation.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a road base showing application of the invention for installation of pipe after pre-drilling.

Referring to the drawings. and Figs. 1 to 6 thereof in particular, there is shown a pipe and mandrel assembly I arranged for insertion as a unit into the ground with a rotative driving pressure applied to one end of the assembly. The assembly comprises a pipe 2 and a mandrel 3. The pipe is constructed of sheet metal or other relatively thin stock structure which may be sectionallzed or in the form of a single unit. This pipe is provided throughout its length with a helical corrugation l forming a raised thread portion on the outside of the pipe and a corresponding groove on the inside of the pipe. It is contemplated that the pipe may be either perforated or of the plain variety, depending upon the manner of use. Transversely disposed across one end of the pipe and aillxed thereto there is provided a clearing cutter bar 5. the function of which is to clear the core dirt when the pipe is forced into the ground with a rotative motion. The pipe, at the other end, is provided with a slightly enlarged swaged portion 5 having a short corrugation 'I therein disposed substantially diametrically opposite the end of the helical thread. These short corrugations which are preferably of a pitch different from that of the helical thread, are provided at each end of pipe sections when a sectionalized unit is employed to provide for locking engagement with cooperating sections. When a sectionalized pipe is employed, the rst or leading section thereof will be provided with the transverse clearing cutter blades. In some applications of the invention, .a single pipe unit will sufilce for the desired purpose but many times it becomes necessary to install drain pipes and the like from points in excavations which define a limited available space, and under these conditions, it has been found necessary to utilize a pipe composed of cooperating sections, the sections being connected as the pipe is progressed into the ground.

The mandrel 3 comprises a hollow metal body having a drive connection 8 and an enlarged flange or collar 9 at one end and a raised helical thread extending from the flange or collar 9 throughout the entire length of the mandrel. The helical thread may be formed as part of the mandrel stock or may be a separate member afxed thereto by welding or other methods. The mandrel may be in the form of a single unit of any desired length or it may be sectionalized for use in restricted working spaces. When sectionalized, a driving section constructed as previously described is employed in cooperation with splined sections shown in Fig. 6. The forward end of the driving section will in this case be provided with splines I6 for cooperation with splines I1 on the section I5. 'This intertting connection between adjacent mandrel sections is provided by spaced slots extending lengthwise of the sections from the ends thereof and arranged that when mandrel sections are assembled, the outer helical thread will register with the thread on adjacent sections and so form a continuous thread throughout the length of the assembly.

In cross sectional area the mandrel thread is sumciently smaller than the iner helical groove of the pipe to` provide for easy removal of the mandrel from the pipe. 'The arrangement, however, when a pipe is threaded on the mandrel, is such that a rotative driving force applied to the mandrel is transmitted vto the pipe throughout its entire length by engagement of the mandrel thread with the front wall of the pipe thread and by engagement of the enlarged collar or shoulder with one end ofthe pipe. 'Ihe mandrel affords a complete support for the inner wall of the pipe and precludes damage and collapse of the pipe when the unit assembly is forced into the ground. The complete support of the pipe by the mandrel against deformation enables the use of sheet metal or other relatively thin-walled pipe of the plain and perforated types for drain, culvert and other purposes.

Any suitable driving power feed means, and driving connections may be utilized for rotating the mandrelwand pipe assembly into desired position in the ground. There is shown for purposes of illustration in Figs. l and 2, a manually operable ratchet I8 and power drive I9 with connections 20 for applying a rotative driving force at the end of the mandrel.

Fig. '7 shows a modified mandrel structure with the tubular body 3 internally threaded .at its end to receive a detachable cutter head 2I provided with forwardly projecting cutters 22 and a reduced screw thread portion 23 for threaded engagement with the end of the mandrel body. The cutters are so arranged that when this type of cutting mandrel is engaged with a pipe or pipe sections having a clearing cutter, the mandrel cutters will be slightly in advance of the forward edge of the cutters on the pipe and be so positioned as not to interfere with the pipe and mandrel engagement or disengagement. Advance cutters on the mandrel or on mandrel sections may also form integral extensions 2l on the mandrel as shown in Fig. 2.

Use of the invention is contemplated for installing pipes under ground without pre-drilling where conditions of the soil permit and for installing pipes after a pre-drilling or during operation. Fig. l illustrates the application of the invention in inserting a perforated drain pipe under an existing pavement structure without pre-drilling and Fig. 9 illustrates the application of the invention in installing pipe where a. pre-drilling or boring operation has been rst conducted. In either case, the pipe is completely supported throughout its length by the driving mandrel and the outer surface of the pipe including the thread has rm frictional engagement with the surrounding soil without material disturbance of its compacted condition.

In operation, in the process of installing lateral drains, culverts and the like, it is only necessary to provide a suitable excavation to accommodate necessary driving tools and for manipulation of the entering sections of the mandrel and pipe. A Pipe 0r pipe section having the clearing cutter at one end is inserted on the mandrel by interen- Saging the mandrel and pipe threads. In this position. the end of the pipe abuts the collar or flange on the mandrel. This unit may be connected to any suitable rotative driving power and, by rotating the assembly under pressure, the pipe may be installed in any desired position beneath the ground, after which the mandrel may be backed oil' and removed, leaving the pipe undisturbed in the installed position. Where necessary space is not available for operation with relatively long mandrel and pipe sections, the pipe sections are progressively installed and in this process the mandrel is backed out of the pipe and a mandrel extension is connected thereto together with an accompanying additional section of pipe. In the insertion of the sectionalized pipe,

the helical outer thread registers with the thread on adjacent sections and interengages therewith at the joints, as is also the case with the short locking corrugations. 'I'he surrounding pipe aiords an overlapping lock for the splined mandrel sections allowing them to be removed without separation. The use of the sectionalized pipe and mandrel is only necessary where there is insuihcient space available from which to operate in the location of the pipes. It will be apparent that where there are no interfering structures or banks to contend with, single unit pipe structures and mandrels may be employed.

The clearing cutter on the leading pipe end serves to clear a pre-drilled or pre-bored hole, depositing the dirt collected within the mandrel, and where the unit is utilized to make its own hole in the ground, the leading cutter on the mandrel serves to cut a core which the clearing cutters on the pipe deposit within the mandrel. If desired, suitable means may be employed to continuously remove dirt from the hollow mandrel. Such means are well known in the art and form no part of the invention.

By the method and structural organization hereinbefore described, it is possible to obtain' aeration of subsoil and drainage under existing structures without interfering with the structures and this may be accomplished with a minimum amount of expense. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the mandrel structure may be used to clear out pipes which have been previously installed and which may have become lled with silt or other matters. In this use, it is only necessary to insert the mandrel and advance it through the pipe to remove any material which may have accumulated inside the pipe.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words oi' description rather than of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention in all its aspects.

I claim:

1. The method of rotatively installing in the ground sheet metal drain pipes having substantially uniform diameter and an exterior helical thread to provide horizontal drains which comprises, supporting the inner surface of the pipe against distortion and advancing the pipe into the desired position frictionally tight in the ground in a progressive rotative movement by applying within and at one end of the pipe a progressive rotative driving force, the rotative advancement and positioning of the pipe providing a. threaded engagement of the pipe with the ground.

2. The method of rotatively installing in the ground thin sheet metal pipes having substantially uniform diameter and an exterior helical thread to provide horizontal drains which comprises advancing the pipe by applying a progressive rotative dxiving force at one end and throughout the entire length of the pipe on the inside thereof, and supporting the pipe on the inside intermediate points of application of said driving force, the rotative positioning of thrpipe providing threaded engagement of the pipe with surrounding ground.

3. In combination, a drain pipe having perorations throughout its length and a steep pitch helical corrugation extending the entire length of the pipe defining a relatively narrow raised screw thread on an otherwise smooth outer surface of the pipe, a helical driving surface on the inside of the pipe throughout its length, a supporting carrier for said pipe closely engaging the inside of the pipe and having an external screw thread engaging the helical driving surface inside the pipe, and means for forcing the pipe and carrier assembly into the ground with a rotative movement.

4. In combination, a hollow metal pipe carrying mandrel having a helical thread extending throughout its entire length on the outside thereof, means for cutting at one end of the mandrel, and rotative driving means at the other end of the mandrel, a pipe having a helical groove extending throughout its length on the inside for driving cooperation with the thread on the outside of the mandrel, and a clearing cutter transversely disposed at one end of the pipe, said mandrel and pipe assembly being adapted for insertion in the ground as a unit under the force of said rotative driving means with the mandrel applying a driving force throughout the entire length of the pipe.

5l In a sectionalized mandrel comprising a plurality of hollow metal members having interengaging splined ends and a raised helical exterior thread, the threads of separate sections meeting to form a continuous thread throughout the entire length of the mandrel structure, and driving means at one end of the mandrel for rotating the same.

6. In combination, a sectionalized hollow metal mandrel having an enlarged iiange portion at one end thereof and an outer helical thread extending throughout the length of the mandrel to the opposite end, driving means connected with the mandrel adjacent the enlarged portion, a sectionalized metal pipe having a helical groove in the inner wall extending throughout the length of the pipe for cooperation with the helical thread onthe mandrel, and a clearing'cutter on one end of said pipe, the helical groove in the pipe and the helical thread on the mandrel being so arranged that the mandrel is adapted to apply a driving force throughout the entire length of the pipe on the inner side thereof.

7. A sheet metal drain pipe section having substantially smooth surface throughout its major portion and having a high pitch helical groove in the inner wall and a raised helical outside bead extending throughout the length of the pipe, said bead providing a thread by which the pipe can be screwed into the grlmd. and a transversely disposed clearing cutter at one end of the pipe section to move dirt into the pipe as the pipe is progressed in the EI'OuIld.

ALAN JAY PARRISH. 

